The Daily Monitor

Mouth Washes and Gargles
Help to Keep Us Healthy

By CLAUD NORTH CHRISMAN, M.D.

Most diseases enter the body through the nose, mouth and throat. If there was some way to filter out all the bacteria in the air, and render sterile all food and drink, our health would be greatly improved. Then we would catch few diseases except those that enter through a skin wound or through other body openings. Unfortunately, we do not have that yet: Perhaps never.

We do possess antiseptics and methods that will destroy bacteria, if they are exposed to them long enough. At the same time they would destroy the tissues with which they come in contact. Even absolute alcohol and iodine require at least 10 minutes to kill most bacteria, but the spores are still sufficiently alive to multiply when they become warm and reach a suitable soil for their growth.

Though we have no absolute antiseptic, it does not mean that we should not use every known method to render the air as free as possible of disease germs, as well as to keep our noses, mouths and throats as clean as we can.

The air and sunshine destroy germs in time. Hence to protect nose and throat we should abound in fresh air and sunshine. Our sources of water supply should be guarded by all possible means against contamination with germs.

Our food must be washed and used, when possible, as boiling over the infective agents. Bacteria flourish in the mucous membranes of the nose, mouth, and throat. The nasal sinuses furnish moisture, heat and darkness. The mouth, especially the teeth and gums, are good harbors. Adenoids and tonsils, though intended to destroy bacteria, are often so heavily invaded that they become places for propagation and absorption. For this reason, these areas should be kept as healthy as possible.

Washing and gargling clean away many germs, but this cannot reach between the teeth, under the gums and tongue or into the crypts of the tonsils. Frequent washing and cleansing of the teeth is imperative. It does not depend so much on the solution used, as it does on the thoroughness of the washing and scrubbing. Food particles lodge between the teeth and under the edge of the gums. Here they decay and feed the germs already there. The preparations used for cleansing are too numerous to mention and contain many useless ingredients.

Salt Solution Effective

The simple washes and gargles are as good as any. Probably none is more successful than normal salt solution, consisting of one fourth teaspoonful of common salt to about half glass of warm water; one fourth teaspoonful of baking soda may be added. It is an ideal cleanser and soothes inflamed membranes. A few drops of peppermint affords a cooling, refreshing taste and odor for the mouth.

Simple compound chalk powder is a good tooth powder. It contains little cinnamon. Clean wooden tooth picks or dental floss will remove food particles from between the teeth. A very good mouth wash can be prepared by mixing one part of alcohol to four or five parts of water. It is astringent, cleansing and antiseptic.

When the whole mouth is inflamed, a solution of potassium chlorate in warm water as a mouth wash is very efficient, though disagreeable. Peroxide of hydrogen in three to five parts of warm water is a strong antiseptic and cleanses red surfaces. It should be used on alkaline wash, such as good for a dry mouth from thirst and fever, ginger ale, rum, peppermint wafers, or fruit juices are cleansing and refreshing. Fifty per cent alcohol and glycerine or a 20 per cent solution of nitrate of silver is used for ulceration in the mouth.

Cleanliness is most imperative.

SIMPLE EYE-WASH

A simple, useful eye-wash can be made as follows: To a quart of boiling water add a level teaspoonful each of ordinary table salt, bicarbonate of soda and boric acid after these have been dissolved; add one tablespoonful of glycerine. Small quantities of peppermint as soothing quality and it is a standard in such preparations.

SIMPLE EYE-WASH

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